Chain locking construction



Oct. 17, 1961 M. FALK, JR

CHAIN LOCKING CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 3, 1959 INVENTOR MORRIS FALIQJ R, BY 0M (7 O M ATTORNEY United States Patent This invention relates to a security device, and more particularly to an auxiliary door security device to be used in conjunction with the usual door locking mechanlsm.

This invention shows features covered, in a measure,

in my joint application Serial No. 757,355,v filed August 2g,61l958, Patent Number 2,970,465, dated February 7, 1 This invention relates to a chain lock device to be used as anadjunct to a normal doorlock, to permit the inhabitant to release the door lock and open the door part way for inspection of a caller, without compromising the security of the door.

Still more particularly, this invention relates to a key controlled chain locking device of the class described,

which may be set by the inhabitant from the inside, and

.With such known auxiliary chain latch, it is possible for the inhabitant to secure the pin to the seat or channeled anchor, release the .doorlocking means, and open the door part way within the scope of movement provided by the chain, thereby permitting inspection of the caller without permitting the caller, by the expedient of pushing on the door, to force the door open. Such auxiliary chain structures, while effective in a measure, present safety problems inthat, if an accident should befall the only occupantof the residence when the chain is in spanning position between the door and frame, entrance to the residence, in an emergency or otherwise, is possible only by breaking the dooror destroying the chain.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an auxiliary chain locking device having all the advantages of chain lock structures heretofore known, and having the additional advantage and safety feature of per mitting authorized persons to enter, notwithstanding the secured or spanning engagement of the chain assembly.

A further object of this invention is to provide an auxiliary chain assembly of the type described having positive disengaging means to assure, upon key actuation by an authorized person, that the chain will become released from spanning position of the door and frame, to permit entrance of such authorized person.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a chain locking device having the advantages aforesaid, which is extremely economical to produce, and in which a large number of parts standard to the lock industry may be employed.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which- FIGURE 1 is an end elevational view of the inner face of a door to which the chain locking device has been applied;

FIGURE 2 is a magnified sectional view taken on the lines 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a reduced section taken on the lines 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

3,004,419 PatentedOct. '17, 1961 ICC FIGURE. 4 is an end elevational view of the inner face of the door to which an embodiment ofthe chain locking device has been applied.

Describing my invention in detail, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a frame F, and door D of the usual type, the door and frame being shown in closed position in FIGURE 1. To the frame F there is fixedly mounted, by screws or the like, a bracket 10 provided with a rearwardly directed hasp or link 11.- A chain 12 is secured to the hasp 11, the free end 13 of the chain 12 being provided with a clevis pin member 14. The pin 14 is provided, adjacent one end, with an annular recessed portion '15, within which portion 15 there is seated the end link 16 of the chain 12. Adjacent the other end 17 there is formed an annular groove 18 to provide a flanged portion 19 adjacent the end 17.

Transversely through the door D there is mounted a key controlled locking assembly 20, which may be of any known type, such as a pin tumbler assembly, or a disk tumbler assembly. The operation of the locking assembly 20 is such that when a key K, correctly mated to the locking assembly, is inserted in the keyway, not shown, driver blade 21 may be rotated in a counter clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 1, by rotating the key K. A hub 22, provided with inner recess 23 of mating configuration with the driver blade 21, is seated over the said driver blade to rotate with such blade when the key is turned. The hub 22 is provided with a sweep arm or finger 24, spaced a distance rearwardly of the hub so that when the key K is rotated, the arm or finger 24 will be rotated in a plane rearwardly of the rear-face of the door.

An open channel member 25 is fixed by screws or otherwise to the rear face of the door D. The channel member is provided with side walls 26, 2,7, and top walls 28, 29, between which top walls there is defined an open space or slot 31). The channel member 25, in cross section, presents a generally 0 shaped appearance. The channel 25 is mounted to therear face of the door, so that the'open end E lies adjacent to the sweep 'arm' 24 when the locking assembly 20 is in locked position, as shown in solid lines in FIGURE 1. The inner dimensions of the channel member 25 are such as to receive the flange 19 of the pin 14 within the said channeLthe flange 19 and inwardly directed walls 28, 29, serving to prevent lateral removal of the pin 14 from the channel 25 when the pin 14- is in inserted position within such channel.

In operation, the chain lock is applied by inserting the flange :19 through the end E and sliding the pin 14 toward the arm 24 to the position shown in full lines in FIGURE 1. When the pin is thus positioned in the channel, the main door lock may be unlatched and the door opened to the limiting position permitted by the chain 12, to permit the occupant to inspect a caller. The caller cannot force his way into the house since pressure on the door D will merely force the pin 14 more tightly against the arm 24, which is dogged against rotation by the locking mechanism 20. The pin 14 may be unseated from channel 25 by an authorized person from the outside by inserting the proper key K and turning the hub 22 and arm 24 through a rotation of about 360. Initial rotation of the arm 24 unblocks end B, permitting the pin 14 to he slid endwisely out of engagement with the channel 25. It will be readily recognized from the foregoing description, that continued rotation of the key will cause the arm 24 to proceed to a position behind the pin 14, see dotted lines, FIGURE 1, continued rotation of the arm 24 serving forcibly to dislodge the pin 14 outwardly from the channel in endwise direction over the open side E of the said channel to assure a positive ejection. V

In the embodiment of FIGURE 4, wherein similar 25 restricts endwise removal of thepin 14, since straddling wall 35 serves to seal the channel at this end B.

At this location, the walls 28, 29, defining the face of the channel 25, are widened at the point 36 adjacent the upper end E to permit lateral insertion of the flange 19 throughthe widened portion, whereupon the flange 19 will be engaged with the narrower portions of walls 28, 29, to prevent lateral removal of the pin 14 from the channel 25 at a' point along the length of the channel 25 otherthan the widened portion 36.

In this embodimenhthe channel 25 is oriented in a vertical direction and the pin 14, under the influence of gravity, drops to a position adjacent the end B of the channel 25, egress from the channel being blocked by the arm 24. It'willbe' readily recognized in this embodiment that when the key K is rotated to withdraw the arm 24 from blocking position of the-end E, the pin 14 will fall free of any connection with the door under the influence of. gravity.

The key operated chain assembly herein described provides the security heretofore obtainable through the use of the conventional chain latch assemblies, while doing away with the dangers of such latch assemblies, byproviding a means of unla-tching'such assembly from the outside. Security isnot sacrified by the provision for outside u'nlatching, since such unlatching may be accomplished only 'by authorized persons having a key intended to operate the assembly.

I refer to my joint application above mentioned which embodies features of my invention for direct actuation and release of an anchor clevis pin by key rotation, and which shows mounting means for the assembly of an actuating member to couple the actuating member direitly to the plug, to provide a simple and-economical security installation. I therefore have not described details of suchjmounting assembly herein as the form thereof will readily be evident from such exemplification of mounting means.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what-I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-' 1. A chain fastenerdevicecomprising a bracket adapted to be anchored to the frame of a door, a channel member. adapted tobe anchored to a door and including side walls, top walls spaced to define a slot, and an open end portion, a chain anchored at one end to said bracket and having at its other end a clevis pin slidable within said slot of said channel member, said pin including a flange g 4 portion'adapted, inthe channel inserted position'of said pin, to engage said top walls to prevent lateral removal of said pin from said channel memberand anextending portion projecting transversely from said channel, key operable locking means mountable on said door, and an arm controlled by said locking means and adapted, in the locked position of said'key operable member to lie adjacent; said end portioni-n blocking'po sition of said extending portion of said pin. I p

2. In combination with a door-and frame assembly, a chain fastener device c'omprising key rotatable locking means mounted on said door, a sweep arm extending from said locking means in spaced parallel relation to the rear face of said door, a channel member mounted on the inside face'of 'said door adjacent said sweep arm of said locking means, said channel member having walls defining a longitudinally extended slot and an open end portion adapted to lie adjacent said sweep arm in the locked position'of said locking means, a chain member having one end secured to said frame and having at the other end a clevis pin including a flange portion slidable within said channel member and an extension portion projecting through said slot, said sweep arm serving in the locked position of said locking means to prevent endwise removal of said pin from said channel member through said open end portion by the engagement of saidsweep arm with said extension portion of saidpin;

3. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said sweep arm extends normal to the axis of rotation of said locking means and is spaced rearwardly of the inner face of said door a distance to describe, upon rotation. of said locking means, a plane "rearward of said channel member but intersecting said'extension'portion of said clevis pin when said pin is mounted in saidchannel member.

4. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said open end portion of said channel member is downwardly directed and said pin is maintained in said channel mem ber against the influence of gravity by said sweeparm in the locked position of said locking means.

References Cited in the file'of this" patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 181,925 Edelen Sept. 5, 1876 188,664 Parham Mar. 20, 1877 832,420 Rinaldy "a Oct. 2, 1906 2,452,151 Robins Oct. 26, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,258 Great Britain 'Iuly 14, 1888 

